fwiw, the few items i have in 'pony'skin (not rick stuff...) have held up real well - no hairs falling out or anything. but i would expect sneaks will scuff up a lot more and your shoes will end up looking like a mangy old horse after a while - i.e. awesome.
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Originally posted by k3mist View Post^ they are the same thing.
the cordovan comes from a part of a muscle on the horse or otherwise known as shell.
Shell cordovan is the specific layer on a horse butt and each animal has two shell cordovan "plates" that can be separated out and turned into true shell cordovan.
It has a distinct texture (no visible grain) and feel (smooth) and is very dense so the folds it generates when used for footwear is rounded and smooth.
Each shell cordovan plate by nature of what it is, cannot be more than about 2 ft x 1.5 ft and that is on the large side for these plates.
I see things called "cordovan leather jackets" etc. from various designers and boots with an obvious surface grain and even a sueded backside that are "cordovan" but these are different than shell cordovan. AFAIK only two tanneries in the world create true shell cordovan, while cordovan itself can be applied to hides tanned in that style but do not actually use shell. One of the tanneries is Horween in Chicago and the process of creating each plate of shell cordovan takes at least 6 months.
If it has a visible grain or a sueded surface, it is NOT shell cordovan. If it's a jacket or bag, it is NOT shell cordovan.
Shell cordovan is exponentially more expensive than even the most expensive horse/cow/goat/sheep/ostrich hide and sq ft to sq ft is more expensive than elephant leather.www.AlbertHuangMD.com - Digital Portfolio Of Projects & Designs
Merz (5/22/09):"i'm a firm believer that the ultimate prevailing logic in design is 'does shit look sick as fuck' "
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Thank u guys. So the cordovan is just the horse leather with different names, isn't it?
Originally posted by Chinorlz View PostThe term cordovan is thrown around very
loosely especially in the realm of the leather-heavy brands we discuss on here. Just like "overlock" "cold dye" "object dye" etc. and is used as a marketing tool to open your wallets.
Shell cordovan is the specific layer on a horse butt and each animal has two shell cordovan "plates" that can be separated out and turned into true shell cordovan.
It has a distinct texture (no visible grain) and feel (smooth) and is very dense so the folds it generates when used for footwear is rounded and smooth.
Each shell cordovan plate by nature of what it is, cannot be more than about 2 ft x 1.5 ft and that is on the large side for these plates.
I see things called "cordovan leather jackets" etc. from various designers and boots with an obvious surface grain and even a sueded backside that are "cordovan" but these are different than shell cordovan. AFAIK only two tanneries in the world create true shell cordovan, while cordovan itself can be applied to hides tanned in that style but do not actually use shell. One of the tanneries is Horween in Chicago and the process of creating each plate of shell cordovan takes at least 6 months.
If it has a visible grain or a sueded surface, it is NOT shell cordovan. If it's a jacket or bag, it is NOT shell cordovan.
Shell cordovan is exponentially more expensive than even the most expensive horse/cow/goat/sheep/ostrich hide and sq ft to sq ft is more expensive than elephant leather.
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Originally posted by originalhead View PostSo the cordovan is just the horse leather with different names, isn't it?
did you read anything he wrote?"AVANT GUARDE HIGHEST FASHION. NOW NOW this is it people, these are the brands no one fucking knows and people are like WTF. they do everything by hand in their freaking secret basement and shit."
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Originally posted by originalhead View PostThank u guys. So the cordovan is just the horse leather with different names, isn't it?
Chinorlz was saying that "cordovan" the name gets thrown around loosely for things that are not cordovan in reality. For example, there were some guidi a season or 2 ago that were labeled as reverse cordovan. But, guidi (the tannery) does not produce cordovan and after a lot of questions and debate on a forum everyone concluded the boots were horse. Now can that horse leather include the area from the horse's butt? the answer is yes but it wont be shell cordovan because of the treatment and the rest of the leather included that is not from the butt.
If Alden claims their shoes are shell cordovan there is usually no question about it because they are known for cordovan and you will pay a price premium.
Hope this helps.
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I see, I will regard the cordovan as the horse leather except for the shell one. The name is a trap for the newbie. But anyway, thank u for your explaination.
Originally posted by drizzly View PostNo horse is horse leather, shell cordovan is the fibrous muscle from the horses butt. Chinorlz explained it very well. here is more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_cordovan
Chinorlz was saying that "cordovan" the name gets thrown around loosely for things that are not cordovan in reality. For example, there were some guidi a season or 2 ago that were labeled as reverse cordovan. But, guidi (the tannery) does not produce cordovan and after a lot of questions and debate on a forum everyone concluded the boots were horse. Now can that horse leather include the area from the horse's butt? the answer is yes but it wont be shell cordovan because of the treatment and the rest of the leather included that is not from the butt.
If Alden claims their shoes are shell cordovan there is usually no question about it because they are known for cordovan and you will pay a price premium.
Hope this helps.
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Try http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/cottonlaces.asp. Not sure what the length of the laces are on the ann d sneakers, but you can order lengths up to 72".
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